Self-closing gate



March 21, 192.9.

L. R. SMART ET AL SELF-CLOSING GATE Filed Dec. 29, 1957 q QN L. R Sman J1 Nelson INVENTORS A TTORN E YS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SELF-CLOSING. GATE Lon R. Smart and Mart Nelson, Rocksprings, Tex.

Application December 29, 1937; Serial No. 182,309

4 Claims.

This invention relates to gates for use on highways, private roads, walks, exits, etc., an object being to provide a simple, compact and eflicient structurewhichq will open freely when pressed against and, after being released, will close automatically, the closing operation being effected without the use of springs or supplemental weights.

A further object is to provide a gate the work- ;ing parts of which are fully protected from snow, ice, and dirt so that the gate will operate readily under all conditions.

A still further object is to provide a gate which can be made either single or double.

Another object is to provide a gate which can be easily set up for use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing the preferred form of the invention has been shown. In said drawing Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the gate, parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a plan view.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference I designates a base plate having an opening 2 above which is formed an'upwardly extending sleeve 3 while opposed ears 4 extend downwardly from the plate at opposite sides of the opening. These ears are adapted to receive set screws 5, or the like which serve to engage the lower end portion of'a spindle 6 seated snugly in the sleeve3 and'extending upwardly there from, the upper end of the spindle being preferably screw-threaded as shown at l and engaged V by nuts 8 constituting an adjustable stop.

Sleeve 3 is formed on its outer surface with a spiral rib 9 engaged by a tubular block or nut ID the inner surface of which has a groove ll pitched similarly to the rib 9 and in which said rib is seated- This tubular nut or block I0 is seated snugly within the lower end of a housing member l2 in the form of an elongated tube, said tube being fastened to the nut or block ID by screws l3 or the like.

The tubular housing I2 is of sufiicient length to completely house the spindle 6 and its upper end is closed preferably by a screw cap I4. Within the upper portion of the tubular housing I2 is a centering block l5 held in place by screws l6 and this block has a central opening I! within which spindle 6 is adapted to slide.

Ears l8 are carried by the housing I2 near the 5 top and bottom thereof. These ears are arranged in pairs and where a double gate is provided, two

. oppositely extending pairs are located adjacent the bottom of the gate and two additional pairs are oppositely extended from the top portion of 10 the housing. This latter construction has been shown in the drawing.

Mounted between the ears of the upper and lower pairs are the upper and lower corner portions respectively of gate frames [9 of any preferred construction and each of which preferably includes a diagonally disposed reenforcing rod 20 having tensioning means such as a turnbuckle 2i. The two frames l9 are extended in opposite directions, in a double gate, and each of them has projecting fingers 22 adapted to bear laterally against a stop post P as shown particularly in Figure 2, thereby to limit rotation of the gate when gravitating along the spiral rib 9.

When the gate is to be set up for use the plate I is supported on a base B of concrete or the like in which are anchored attaching bolts A. Thus the spindle 6 and the tubular housing l2 will be supported in vertical position and as long as the cap it is in place the said spindle, block Ill, and spiral rib 9 will be protected from dirt and moisture.

When the gate is closed the block I0 is in lower or normal position and the fingers 22 are pressed 5 laterally against post P. When it is desired to open the gate it is merely necessary to thrust one of the frames l9 away from the post P engaged by its fingers 22. As the gate is thus swung, the block H] which moves therewith, will ride upwardly on the spiral rib 9, thereby bodily raising the complete gate. After the gate has been released, the weight thereof will cause block In to gravitate along rib 9 and this action will, in turn, cause the gate to swing back to closed 45 position.

Obviously the gate will operate in the same manner whether it be a single gate or a double gate. If it is a single gate,only one of the frames I 9 would be used and there would only be one 50 post P.

What is claimed is:

1. A gate of the class described including a base plate, a sleeve thereon having a spiral rib extending therearound, a spindle, a tubular housing into which the spindle extends, means secured in the housing for support and. engagement by the spiral rib, guiding means secured in the housing and sliding on the spindle, and a gate frame extending radially from the housing.

2. A self-closing gate including an attaching plate, a sleeve extending upwardly therefrom, a spiral rib extending around the sleeve, a spindle, a tubular housing in which the spindle extends, guiding means in the housing slidably engaging the spindle, an adjustable stop on the spindle for engagement by the guiding means when lifted thereagainst, a block supported and engaged by the spiral rib, and a gate frame extending radially from the housing, said frame constituting means, when thrust against, for feeding the block along the spiral rib to elevate the gate relative to the spindle.

3. A self-closing gate including a spindle, means for anchoring the same at one end, said means including a sleeve and a spiral rib extending around the sleeve, a housing surrounding the spindle, a closure for the upper end of the housing, means secured in the lower portion of the housing for rotatably engaging the sleeve and rib to raise or lower said housing relative to the spindle, a spindle-engaging guide within and l carried by the housing, an adjustable stop on the spindle and above the guide, and a gate frame extending radially from the housing and constituting means for rotating said housing relative to the spindle.

4. A self-closing gate including a spindle, means for anchoring the same at one end, said meansincluding a sleeve and a spiral rib extending around the sleeve, a housing surrounding the spindle, a closure for the upper end of the housing, means secured in the lower portion of the housing for rotatably engaging the sleeve and rib to raise or lower said housing relative to the spindle, a spindle-engaging guide within and carried by the housing, an adjustable stop on the spindle and above the guide, and a gate frame extending radially from the housing and constituting means for rotating said housing relative to the spindle, the pitch of the rib being such as to cause the gate to gravitate and rotate when released for movement in one direction.

LON R. SMART. MART NELSON. 

